Clutch



lDM- 5. 1939' c. A. NERACHER Er A1. 2,182,385

CLUTCH Filed Aug. 26, 1936 Z9 n a5 Z7, 4 /0 l 36 /IZ/ 8 23 4a 3 f f (55 54 Z8 29 a. ,3 2f 5527/ l O 4 (3.3 1 7 .96 l/ ga ,25 a 1 25 4 2? l l 7 3f, a t (5 a 45 l E.

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Patented Dec. 5, 1939 f UNITED STATES PATENT Aoi-l-lcE Mich.,

Wal?

assignors to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a

corporation of Dela- Appucation Agust ze, 193s, serial No. 91,868

13 Claims.

This invention relates to clutches and refers more particularly to centrifugal clutches of the positive synchronous engaging type such as are used in controlling motor vehicle power driving mechanism including transmissions, overdrives and the like.

One object of our invention is to provide improvements in the clutching characteristics-of the aforesaid mechanisms whereby to provide more positive operation of the clutch with less wear of the parts and noise during operation, especially when synchronizing the clutch parts preparatory for the clutch engagement.

Heretofore, with known types of positive synchronous centrifugal clutches, the pawl or dog is arranged to jump the slots of a clutch shell until these parts are substantially synchronized at which time the pawl is moved by centrifugal force into clutching engagement with a slot. This jumping action is facilitated by camming the outer face of thev pawl so that it will pass across the slots during the synchronizing action without being permitted to prematurely enter a slot. However, such amming, which is ordinarily produced by progressively rounding the outer face of the pawl toward its leading edge and inwardly toward the axis of rotation, causes the pawl to bounce or rapidly vibrate inwardly and outwardly as it ljumps each slot during synchronizing. This bouncing produces an objectionable ratcheting noise and unduly wears the edges of the slots and the-pawl face.

One feature oi oury invention residesin an improved pawl face which will avoid the aforesaid $5 objectionable characteristics by providing animproved form of cam face resulting in minimizing noise and wear to `the degree Where lthese items are no longer objectionable.

Additional objects of our invention are to prospring and under centrifugal force.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

we have provided a clutch havingan improved construction and arrangement of parts more particularly illustrated in several embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevationalview somewhat diagrammatic in form, illustrating one applicalines 3 3 of Fig. 2, as indicated.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the cam face ofv the pawl.

the spring 10 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified clutch construction. f

In order to illustrate one form of application of our clutch, we have shown in Fig. 1 a motor vehicle overdriving mechanism, it being understood that our clutch is adapted for use with a wide variety of mechanisms whereverit vis vdesired to clutchingly connect parts of a mechanism .which are adapted to have their rotational speeds synchronized. This overdriving mechanism comprisesa conventional change speed transmission I0 from which the drive is taken .by a drive shaft II piloted at its rear end I2 in the forward end of a driven shaft I3 having the splines I 4.

The overdrive gearing is illustrated as the planetary type having the planetary pinions I5 supported by a carrier I6 drivingly connected at I'I with the splines I8 of the drive shaft I I. These planetary pinions engage a Vsun gear I9 non-rotatably secured at 2li to the housing of transmission Il), the planetary pinions also 'engaging an internal gear 2| having a rearwardA extension 22 for carrying the pawl core or cage23 of the automatic clutch 24.

The other clutching structure of the automatic clutch 24 comprises a rotatable shell 25 formed with a plurality of circumierentially spaced pawl receiving slots 26, this shell25 having a rearward extension 21 forming the outer cylindrical member of an overrunningclutch 28, this extension also being formed with the internal splines 29 engaged by corresponding splines 30 of an axially shiftable manually controlled clutching device 3| having a driving lconnection with .the splines Il of driven shaft I3.

The overrunning clutch 28 is provided with the usual clutching rollers 32 acted upon in the well known manner by the inner overrunning clutch cam member 33- drivingly connected to splines I8. Cam 33 is formed with an annular series of clutching teeth 34 adapted for engagement with the companion teeth 35 carried by the shiftable clutch member Il, the latter having a shifting groove adapted in the well known manner to be manually shifted forwardly inl rc- Shaft sponse to a reverse drive setting of transmission Ill and for independent manual lockout control if desired as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Before describing the structural details of our improved clutch 24, we will irst briefly describe the general operation of the overdriving mechanism so that a typical application of our vclutch will bereadily understood.` In an overdrive mechanism it is generally desirable to arrange the automatic clutch so that the overdrive willv be established at or about a predetermined speed of motor vehicle travel, as for example forty miles per hour, and with such a setting` of the automatic clutch a direct driving relationship between driving and driven shafts I'I and I3, respectively, is established prior to the engage]- mentl of the automatic clutch. This' drive'passes y from vdrive shaft Il through the overrunning. clutch 28 and clutch device 3I to the driven n I3. Assuming the shift. device to be -in the position illustrated in Fig. `l, and further assuming that the motor vehicle is accelerated in the direct drivevto, a lspeed above the critical speed of operation of the automatic clutch 24,

' it ,will be apparent that during suchtimes the pawl cage 23 will be rotated through the planetary gearing at a speed faster vthan the rotational speedof the shell 25 which always rotates at the speed of driven shaft I3 for the particular` arirangexnent of parts illustrated. When the motor vehicle driver momentarily releases the usual accelerator pedal, the driving shaft II will slow' down and the driven shaft I3 will continue its rotational speed by reason of the overrunning action at the clutch 28.` `This-synchronizing actionof the clutching'structures of the automatic clutch 24 will very quickly synchronize therotal tional speeds of the clutching structures wherefupon the pawls, which will shortly be referred to in detail, will ber projected into the slots 26 to establish a twoway drive at an overdrive ratio determined by the planetary gearing between shafts II and I3, theoverrunning clutch 28 be` ing automatically rendered inoperative by rea` son of its overrunning action during the time kthat the automatic clutch remains engaged.v`

The overdrive thus established passes from the drive shaft II through the carrierl I6, planetary pinions I5 and thence to the vinternal gear 2|; and. .automatic clutch 24. to" drivev the kextension 21, clutch3| and driven shaft I3 at the over-1 driving speed. c y 3 LWhen the motor vehicle is decelerated from the over-driving condition,` the automaticiclutch will automatically disengage at some predetermined speed, usually ilve to ten miles per hour less thaniy the critical speed of engagement, and when such disengagement takes place, the overrunning;

clutch 281s automatically restored to usefulnessl in providing a direct drive between shaftsII and I3 as aforesaid.. When thedirection ofdrive to; the motor vehicle is 'reversed by reversing thei normal direction of rotation of drive shaft'l I, and` at such other times as it may be desired to pro-c vide a directtwo-way Ydrive between shafts II? andl I3, it will be apparentfthat the overrunning clutch 28 .must be looked out.` ,This is accom-` plished by a forwardshifting of the clutch deviceI 3I to engage the clutch teeth 35 thereof with the teeth 34 whereuponthe automatic clutch 24 as well as the overrunning clutch 2,8k will be lockedl out of operation. l. 1 f I Referring now particularly to Figs. 2, 3I and i` which illustrate one embodiment of our auto-.

ably centered within the shell 2*.` by the diametrically opposite pairs of guide projections 21 andr 28` spaced fromeach other substantially at diametrically opposite points to provide a pair of outwardly extending guide ways 29 each of which slidablyreceives thev clutching endl portion .30* of a pawl 3I.. Each pawl 3l`r has alcounterbalancing guiding end portion 32' formed with a spring receiving seat 33 projecting laterally be-` `'tvveen an adjacent pair of the projections 21 and 28', the pawl end portions 30 and 32T beingr connected' by an intermediate portion 34 curving at'leastpartially around the shaft I I and prefer- "ably conforming'to the outer diameter thereof so thatfthe shaft II will provide a bearing stop or seat for each pawl in the fully retracted position ythereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. `Itwill be noted' that the counter-balancing guide portion 32' and' the seat 33 are preferably disposed to one sideof a plane 35 through the axis of `rotation 36 and perpendicular toa planex31 lying in the direction vof pawl movement, kthepawl clutching portion 30 being disposedto the other side of the aforesaid plane 35'.. This arrangement of parts permits the use of a spring having lthe desired length and operating characteristics v-in controlling the pawl for a positive.outward projection thereof at the particularfdesired criti- Cal speed. t,

l Each .adjacent pair of lguide projections 21' and 28 are formed withl aligned openings 38, 39, respectively, for receiving a guide pin. having a;

slot 4I inone endthereof for spreading the rpin when the latter is in assembled position whereby the pin is fixed with respecttol the projections 21 `and 28.A Each pin 40aiso extends through anY opening 42 in a seat.r33f for slidably guiding a V,pawl in conjunction with one -of the guideways 29'. 4. v t i n In order to control the movement of each pawl f 3I under the action of centrifugalforce and to yieldingly urge the pawl to its inward .or declutched position, a coil Y.spring 43;.is arranged for action at one end thereof `against a seat 33', the other end Vof thel coilv spring acting against a guide projection 28 through theintermediary'of one yormore adjusting shims 44 best? illustrated in Fig. 3. The pairof coil springs 43 for the vtwo pawls 3I' illustrated in ;Fig..2 arethus disposed along opposite ysides substantially adjacent lthe shaft I I and so locatedthat they may have -suicient room to accommodate .the desiredy length `of coilspring. The shims k44 are provided with the outwardly opening slots 45 to accommodate their ready insertion or removal, the terminal tongues'l46 being deflectedalongvthe inner face of a projection 28 to prevent accidentalHdisplacement of the shims'.r It will befapparent `that by the addition of shims,l the compressive force of the'spr'ings 43 may be increased; or decreased by the removalfof one or more shims as desired in order to vary the clutching characteristics of the automatic clutch. The pawls V3|' are projected outwardly into engagement with slots 26, this outward movement is limited'byreason ofn'a pin 41 carried by the cagey23 and lying in the part ofV each of the seats 33' and thereby serving as a stop for the outward movement of the pawls.

- vAssuming the normal direction of rotation of the parts for a forward motor vehicle drive to'be clockwise as'indicated by the arrow-'48 in Fig. 2,

each pawl clutchingzportion 30' may be said to have'its outer face provided with a leading por--k tion 43 and a trailing portion 50, theseportions 75 respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly from a point approximately as indicated by the line 5I in Fig. 4. The trailing portion 50 which is preferably substantially less in circumferential length than the portion 49, is formed as apart of a cylindrical surface having its axis at 35' thereby conforming with the inner surface of shell 25. The portion 49 is preferably a plane surface sloping circumferentially in the direction of rotation and inwardly at an angle 52 which we have found givesl the desirable results in the attainments of the objects of the invention when approximately two and one'half to five degrees. We have discovered that the sloping plane surface 49 operates during the synchronizing action to strike the leading edge 53 of the slots 29 a glancing blow to thereby minimize the inward and outward movement of the pawls during the time that they are jumping the slots preparatory to clutching engagement therewith when the shell 25 and cage 23 are synchronized. 'I'his results in a minimization of noise incident to the pawl jumping action and also minimizes wear on the pawls and slots incident to their normal operation. The cylindrical portion 50 insures a bearing engagement with shell 25 during travel of each pawl between the slots 25 vduring the synchronizing action when the pawls are being projected outwardly and trying to enter the slots.

Referring to the slightly modified construction automatic clutch illustrated in Fig. 5,' it will be apparent that this clutch is substantially similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 and may be substituted therefor in the Fig. 1 mechanism or in other suitable mechanisms as aforesaid. Fig. 5 differs from Fig. 2 in that the pins 41 have been omitted and in their place each of the pawls 3l* has its counter-balancing guide portion 32* extended to provide a terminal end portion 5I* so disposed. in conformity with shaft Il to engage this shaft when the pawls are fully projected and thereby limit the outward movement of the pawls. The intermediate or yoke portion 34a otherwise corresponds to the intermediate portion 34f of Fig. 2 although it will be noted that in Fig. 5 the seats 331- are now disposed intermediate the end portions of the pawls 3|". In both Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 it will be noted that the ends of the pawls opposite the clutching portions thereof are spaced circumferentially from the clutching portion of a companion pawl, thereby simplifying the structure of the pawl, minimizing the weight thereof, and maintaining these parts free from engagement which would produce frictional resistance to their relative movement.

Inas much as the remaining portions of the clutch illustrated in Fig. 5 may be similar to the Fig. 2 illustration, we have applied similar reference numerals -to our Fig. 5 illustration, further description of such parts and the operatio-n thereof not being necessary. I

We do not limit our invention, in the broader aspects thereof, to' the particular combination and arrangement of parts shown and described for illustrative purposes, since various modifications and changes will be apparent within the teachings of our invention as defined by the ap-4 pended claims.

We claim:

l. I n a centrifugally operated clutch for drivk ingly connecting coaxial relatively rotatable driving and driven shafts, relatively rotatable pawll carrying and pawl engaging clutching structures, one being adapted for driving connection to 'said driving shaft and the other to said driven shaft,

a pawl carried by said pawl carrying structure and having a clutching portion adapted to move in response to centrifugal force exerted thereon into positive clutching engagement with saidl pawl engaging structure in response'to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, said pawl engaging structure having a portion thereof adapted to clutchingly receive said pawl clutching portion to positively connect said structures, said pawl having a counterbalancing., portion so. disposed as to be acted on by centrifugal force iny opposition to'said centrifugal force acting on said pawl clutching portion, said counterbalancing portion having a laterally extending abutment formed with an aperture, a coil spring seated at one end thereof on said abutment, ,a second abutment forvthe other end ofl said coil springcarried by said pawl carrying structure, l. pin fixed relatively to said second abutment and extending axially through said coil spring and through said aperture to slidably guide movement of said pawl, and shim means between said coil one being adapted for driving connection to saidv driving shaft and the other to said driven shaft,

ya, pawl carried by said pawl carryingstructuro and having a clutching portion adapted to move in response to centrif :gal force exerted thereon into positive clutching engagement with said pawl 'engaging structure in response to substantiallyk synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, ysaid pawl'engaging structure having a portion thereof adapted to clutchingly receive said pawl clutching portion to positively connect said structures, said pawl having a counterbalancing' portion so disposed as to be acted on by centrifugal forcein opposition to said centrifugal force acting onsaid pawl clutching portion, said counterbalancing portion having a laterally extending terminal abutment formed with an aperture, a coil spring seated at one end thereof on said abutment, a second abutment for the other end of said coil spring'carried by said pawl carrying structure, a pin fixed relatively to said second abutment and extending axially through said coil springand through said aperture to slidably guide movement of said pawl, and shim means between saidl coil spring and one of said abutments for adjusting the force of said spring.

3. In a centrifugally operated clutch for drivingly connecting coaxial relatively rotatable driving and driven shafts, relatively rotatable pawl carrying and pawl engaging clutching structur, one being adapted for driving connection to said driving shaft and the other to said driven shaft, a pawl carried by said pawl carrying structure and having a clutching portion adapted to move in response to centrifugal force exerted thereon into positive clutching engagement with said pawl engaging structure in response tovsubstantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or'above a predetermined speed, said pawl en-v fio `sam centrifugal forcefacung on .said pani y limit clutching movement of said. pawl.

to'saidf driving shaft andthe otherV to said driven shaft; a pawl `carried by said pawl carrying strucclutching portlon,' said, counter-balancing portionghavi'ng ka laterally" extending ,abutment formed with an aperture, a coil spring seated at vone endthereof on' said abutment,.a second abutment `forthey other encl of said coil vspringfcar-y ried,bysaidpawlfcarryingstructure, ,a pin fixed f relatively to `saidsecond abutment andextendingv 'axially through saidcoil spring and` throughsaid Vaperture to. slidablyV guide movementuoffsaid pawl, said counterbala'ncingportion having a terminal partl thereof engaging one of said shafts yto 4. In a centrifugallyyoperated clutch forodrivlingly connecting' coaxial relatively rotatable f driving and driven shafts, relativelykv rotatable pawljca'rryi'ng and pawl engaging clutching structures, o'nabeing'*adapted for-driving connection ture" and" having a j clutching portion adapted tb lmoveinresponse to centrifugalforce exerted thereonlinto positive clutching engagement'fwith .said pawl engaging structure in response tosubstantially synchronized "rotation of said struc?- tures 'at or above 'a predetermined speed, said pawl engaging .structure having a portion thereof adapted tofclutchiglyv receiveY said pawl clutching portion to positively connect Vsaid structureaf isaid pawl having a counterbalancing portion so disposedlasjtobe actedI on by centrifugal force in opposition to said centrifugal force acting on saidpawl carrying structure .anddisposedin the i path of 'vmovementof the flrst'said abutment for limiting clutching movement of said pawl. 5; In a centrifugally voperated clutch for driv-,yx ingly connecting. coaxial relatively rotatable driv-'f n ing,k andldriven shafts, relatively rotatable v pawl carrying and pawl engaging clutching structures;

v one beingfadapted for driving connection to said drivingshaft. and the lother to said driven shaft; a pawl carriedy yby said pawl carrying structure and having a clutching portionadapted tomove inY response ,tocentrifugal force exerted thereon; into positive clutching engagement with `said; pawl engaging lstructure .in response to substan tlally synchronized rotation ofr salu'v structures at or above a .predetermined speed, salvipawl erigaglng structure having a portion-thereof adapt-1 d .to clutchingly receive said pawl clutching pon-5l tion to positively connect 'seid' structures, saidI pawlfhaving ay counterbalancing portion so disposed as to be acted on by centrifugalforce ini opposition'tosaid centrifugal `force acting on saidl pawl clutching portion, and yielding means acte, lingen-said pawl to oppose clutchingv movementg thereoffsaid pawlhavingan intermediate portionv connecting said clutching and Ycounte,rebel-A ancing portions, said intermediate" pawl'portion;

v extending adjacent to `andai: least partiallyl around one of said shafts, saidcounterbalancing portion having a'terminal' portion free from en-' gagement'with said clutching structures, saidtei' 1 minal portion being' disposed to, engage thelast* 6., In a o o having a plurality of slots, Vmeans including apair ofl centrifugal force operated rpawls rotatablefaisasss said k shaft lto .limit Vcentrifugal movement of the.

pawlw. v w

centrifugal clutch, a rotatable Vshell Within -saidshelljsaid rotatable means having a pair ofv spring'seats, each ofzsaid pawls having of said slots when saidpawls andshellare ro- ,tated at substantiallythe'- same speed at or. above apredeter'mined .minimum'speed, and a pair oi.'` coil springs each having one end thereof acting on one of said pawls in-opposition to movement thereof by centrifugal force, .the other endy of each oisaid coil springs being yseatedjon one. of

iuaidpawls,v each ofsaid pawlshaving a countero a portion. thereofadapted for projection ,into one said spring seats, saidrsprings being disposedl ad- .jacentopposite sides of theeaidsofrotation of Y balancing portion disposed to one side cfa plane Y v`througlnl-thjef axis of4 said rotatable means per. .pendicular to the direction oli-:movement of said slot projecting portion of the same pawl,-said rotatable means having a vpair of 'guides respectivelyv slidably .engaged lby said pawl counterbalancing portions, each v, of said lpa'wl coiniterbalancing'portions terminating in circumn 4ferentially spaced relationship with .respect to' the slot projecting portion of the other pawl. *f

'7.--In `a centrifugal clutch, a`rotatableshell havinga plurality of.slots,means including a pair of i centrifugalkforce operatedlpawls rotatabley within said shell, lsaid rotatable means having a pair of spring seats, each-of said pawls having a portion :thereofA adapted for projection into -one yof said slots when said pawlsfandshelll are frotated at substantially the same speed at or Vabove a predetermined minimum,speed,"-and'apairof coll springs each' having one endV thereof `acting on one-of said pawlsin lopposition yto movement thereof by Centrifugal force;V thelother end 'of each of said coil-springs being -seated on vone of saidspring seats,- said` springs being` disposed adjacent opposite sides of the axis of A'rotation of said-pawls, each of said pawls having a coun'-v terbalancingt portion disposed `to' one side* of a perpendicular to the'direction 'ofmo'vement of said slot projecting portionfof the same pawl, y

` said rotatable meanshaving a "pair ofu guides respectively slidably `engaged'by said pawl counterbalancing pcrtions,each of said pawl counterprojecting portion wof the other 'wl, each of said pawls having alateraIIy. extending shoulder in-` termediate its endsffor seating said endfof'one 4of saidcoil springs.

balancing portions terminating Ain circumferen# tially spaced relationship with r sricct tothe 'slot v 8. n a centrifugal clutch, a rotatablefshell y having a pluralityof'- slots, means including a pair of, centrifugal force loperated pawls rotatable Within said shell, said rotatablemeans having a pair of springv seats."each of said pawls having a. portion thereof adapted for projection intoone of saiclI slots whensaid 'pawlsV and shell arero# tated at substantially the same speed ator above a predetermined .minimum speed, and a pair of coil springs each having one end thereof .acting on one of saidpawls in opposition to movement thereof by centrifugal force, the other end` of yeach fof said coil springs being seated on. one of said spring seatsy.`said'springs being disposed J adjacent oppositeofs'ides of the axis of rotation of said pawls, eachof saidfpawls having a counterbalancing portion`v disposedto one side of a'plane through the laxis of said, rotatablev means per-.-

asy

45 Y plane through the'axls-of'said rotatable means pendicular to the direction of movement of said slot projecting portion of the same pawl, said rotatable means having a pair of guides respectively slidably engaged by said pawl counterbalancing portions, each of said pawl counterbalancing portions terminating in a laterally extending shoulder spaced circumferentially with respect to the slot projecting portion of the other pawl, each of said shoulders seating said end of one of said coil springs.

9. In a clutch for drivingly connecting driving and driven members, a pawl carrying structure drivingly connected to one of said members, a pawl receiving structure drivingly connected to the other of said members, a plurality of pawls carried by said .pawl carrying structure and adapted for clutching movement, said pawl receiving structure being adapted to receive said lpawls to positively connect said structures in response to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, and yielding means urging said pawls to their disengaged position, said pawls having yoke portions acted on by said yielding means, said yoke portions extending at least partially around said member to which said pawl carrying structure is connected, each oi.' said yoke portions terminating in circumferentially spaced relation-I ship with respect to the remainder of said plurality of pawls, said pawl carrying structure having a pair oi.' guides respectively slidably engaged by said pawl yoke terminal portions.

10. In a clutch for drivingly connecting driving and driven members, a pawl carrying structure drivingly connected to one of said members, a pawl receiving structure drivingly connected to the other of said members, a plurality oi.' pawls carried by said pawl carrying structure and adapted for clutching movement, said pawl receiving structure being adapted to receive said pawls to positively connect said structures in response to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, and yielding means urging said pawls to their disengaged position. said pawls having yoke portions acted on b v said yielding means, said yoke portions extending at least partially around said member to which said pawl carrying structure is connected, each of said yoke portions terminating in circumferentially spaced relationship with respect to the remainder of said plurality oi' pawls and being disposed for engagement with the last said member for limiting outward movement of said pawls.

11. In a clutch for drivingly connecting driving and driven members, a pawl carrying structure drivingly connected to one of said members, a pawl receiving structure drivingly connected to the other of said members, a plurality of pawls carried by said pawl carrying structure and adapted for clutching movement, said pawl receiving structure being adapted to receive said pawls to positively connect said structures in response to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed. and yielding means urging said pawlsv to their disengaged position. said pawls having yoke portions acted on by said yielding means, said yoke portions extending at least partially around said member to which said pawl carrying structure is connected, each of said yoke portions terminating in circumferentialy spaced relationship with respect to the remainder of said plurality of pawls and being formed with a seat for said yielding means, said pawl carrying structure having a pair of guides respectively slidably en, gaged by said pawl yoke terminal portions.

12. In a centrifugally operated clutch for drivingly connecting coaxial relatively rotatable driving and driven shafts, relatively rotatable pawl carrying and pawl engaging clutching structures, one being adapted for driving connection to said driving shaft and the other to said driven shaft, a pawl carried by said pawl carrying structure and having a clutching portion adapted to move in response to centrifugal force exerted thereon into positive clutching engagement with said pawl engaging structure in response to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, said pawl engaging structure having a portion thereof adapted to clutchingly receive said pawl clutching portion to positively connect said structures, said pawl having a counterbalancing portion so disposed as to be acted on by centrifugal force in opposition to said centrifugal lforce acting on said pawl clutching portion, said counterbalancing portion having an abutment formed with an aperture, a pair of projections carried, by said pawl carrying structure and having aligned apertures, said abutment being disposed between said projections, a coil spring having its opposite ends respectively thrusting on said abutment and on one of said projections for retracting said pawl to its declutched position, and a pin extending axially through said coil spring and through said abutment aperture to slidably guide movement of said pawl, said pin having its opposite ends tting in said aligned apertures respectively, said pin being xed against movement in said aligned apertures.

13. In a centrifugally operated clutch for drivingly connecting coaxial relatively rotatable driving and driven shafts, relatively rotatable pawl carrying and pawl engaging clutching structures, one being adapted for driving connection to said driving shaft and the other to said driven shaft, a pawl carried by said pawl carrying structure and having a clutching portion adapted to move in response to centrifugal force exerted thereon into positiveclutching engagement with said pawl engaging structure in response to substantially synchronized rotation of said structures at or above a predetermined speed, said pawl engaging structure having ya portion thereof adapted to clutchingly receive said pawl clutching portion to positively connect said structures, said pawl having a counterbalancing portion sodisposed as to be acted on by centrifugal force in opposition to said centrifugal force acting on said pawl clutching portion. said counterbalancing portion having an abutment formed with an aperture. a pair of projections carried by said pawl carrying structure and having aligned apertures, said abutment being disposed between said projections. a coil spring having its opposite ends respectively thrusting on said abutment and on one of said projections for retracting said pawl to its declutched position, and a pin extending axially through said coil spring and through said abutment aperture to slidably guide movement of said pawl, one of said pin ends being slotted to accommodate spreading of the pin end-portions adjacent the slot for anchoring said pin in one of said projections.

CARL A. NERACHER. AUGUSTIN J SYROVY. 

